Universal bolster



Feb. 6, 1968 R. 1.. TURPEN UNIVERSAL BOLSTER Filed Jan. 19, 1966 F 33 INVENTOR. RUSSELL L. TURPEN' AT TORN E Y5 United States Patent Office 3,367,615 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,615 UNIVERSAL BOLSTER Russell L. Turpen, 2200 Central St., North Richmond, Calif. 94804 Filed Jan. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 521,566 Claims. (Cl. 248-361) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bolster for facilitating the anchoring of cargo containers on the bed of a railroad flat car or truck, etc. is described. The bolster includes an elongated beam having turrets rotatably mounted at its opposite ends. Each of the turrets is provided with an assortment of bolster heads of different configurations and sizes. The turrets are r0- tatably mounted so as to present different ones of the heads into proper positions for reception into bolster sockets adjacent the corners of a cargo container, and a latch arrangement is provided for selectively securing the turrets in such positions, Because different heads can thereby be presented for reception into cargo container sockets, different shapes and sizes of sockets can be accommodated, thereby permitting the bolster to be used with different cargo containers.

This invention relates generally to bolsters of the type carried upon railroad flat cars, etc., to facilitate the releasable securance of cargo containers thereon, and is more particularly directed to a universal bolster for use with any of a number of different types and/or sizes of cargo container bolster sockets that may be encountered.

Bolsters are typically employed on railroad fiat cars and elsewhere to facilitate firrn anchored support of cargo containers. More particularly, a bolster is usually pro vided with a pair of projecting heads at its opposite ends for engaging sockets provided adjacent the corners of a cargo container. The heads are generally formed with bores to receive lock pins that may be inserted thereinto through access openings provided in the sockets. The pins are engageable with confronting interior portions of the socket to thus lock the containers in position. Unfortunately, different cargo containers may have bolster sockets of varied sizes and/or configurations. It has therefore been the usual practice to provide the bolsters with interchangeable heads having varied sizes and configurations suited to the various sockets that may be encountered on different cargo containers. When the existing heads of a bolster are unsuited to the sockets of a cargo container that is to be anchoredtherewith, such heads are removed, and thereafter heads of appropriate configuration to fit the sockets are secured to the bolster. This is of course a tedious and time consuming process. Existing bolsters are also disadvantageous from the standpoint ,of the assortment of different shaped and sized heads that must be kept on hand separately from the bolsters.

, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bolster'that may be universally employed with cargo containers having a variety of different socket sizes and configurations.

To accomplish the foregoing object, the bolster of the invention integrally includes a plurality of differently sized and shaped heads that may be rapidly positioned to accommodate cargo container sockets of correspondingly varied sizes and configurations. The heads are turret mounted for selective movement into operable position in a simple straight-forward manner, and a locking mechanism for each turret is provided in :an unobstructing location confined within the :bolster.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a cargo container secured upon a railroad fiat car by means of universal bolsters in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the cargo container and one of the bolsters.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the selectable head arrangement of the bolster with one head operably positioned in engagement with a socket of the cargo container.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the selectable head arrangement.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, thre is shown a railroad flatca-r 11 with a cargo container 12 mounted thereon. Such mounting of the cargo container is accomplished by means of a pair of bolsters 13, 13 in a substantially conventional manner. However, the bolsters 13, 13 are arranged, in accordance with the present invention, for universal service with cargo containers having a variety of differently sized and shaped bolster sockets. In this regard, the various cargo containers that are encountered may have sockets in a variety of configurations and sizes. However, conventional bolsters are provided with heads at their opposite ends having a single size and configuration for engagement with the cargo container sockets. Thus, when a differently sized or shaped socket has been encountered, it has been the usual practice to remove the existing bolster heads and secure suitable heads in their place. As just noted, the bolsters 13, 13 in accordance with the present invention are universal in nature and overcome the problem in that substantially any size and configuration of socket may be accommodated. More specifically, in accordance with the basic aspects of the invention, a bolster is provided which has a plurality of heads of different sizes and configurations which may be selectively operably positioned for engagement with the different sockets that may be encountered on the cargo containers.

In the preferred construction of the bolsters 13, 13 outlined above, each bolster include a beam 14 of preferably rectangular cross section, and the beams of the respective bolsters are mounted in elevated position relative to the top of the flat-car 11. For example, the beams are secured upon a pair of parallel spaced longitudinally extending T-beams 16, 17 in transverse bridging relation to the opposite ends thereof. A turret 18 is rotatably mounted at each end of each beam 14, and a plurality of bolster heads 19 of different sizes and configurations are secured to the turret at angularly spaced apart positions thereof. By rotating the turret, the heads may be selectively placed in an operable position of right-angular projection upwardly from the beam. In order that the respective heads may be secured in such operable position, suitable locking means 21 are associated with the turret to selectively release same for rotation or lock same in different positions of rotation wherein the respective heads are operably positioned.

Each turret 18 is preferably in the form of a polyhedron having a plurality of faces 22 corresponding to the number of different heads that are to be provided and equally angularly spaced relative to the rotational axis of the turret. The respective heads 19 then project rightangularly from the respective faces 22. Each turret is advantageously mounted for rotation coaxially of the beam. In this regard, a pair of parallel spaced plates 23 preferably project longitudinally from opposite side faces of the beam. A rectangular housing 24 is secured between the free ends of the plates 23 in longitudinally spaced relation to the end of the beam, and the housing is traversed by a bushing 26 in coaxial alignment with the beam. The turret is formed with a coaxially projecting cylindrical shank 27 rotatably disposed within the bushing, thus facilitating selective rotation of the turret coaxially of the beam.

The locking means 21 is then preferably provided as including a polyhedral head portion 28 formed at the free end of the shank 27 in correspondence with the configuration of the turret 18 and having flat faces 29 correspondingly parallel to the turret faces 22. Such head portion projects into the intervening space between the inner end of the housing 24 and end of the beam, as best shown in FIGURE 3. The head portion 28 is engageable with an aperture 31 provided in a latch plate 32 hingedly mounted upon the inner end face of housing 24 for pivotal movement about a transverse axis. The aperture 31 is substantially conformed to the cross section of the head portion 28 and has a flat horizontal upper surface. When the latch plate is in upwardly pivoted position, the head portion 28 is disengaged from the aperture 31, and the turret 18 is thus freed for rotation. The turret may then be rotated to selectively position any of the faces 22 in an upper horizontal position wherein the corresponding bolster head 19 projects right angularly upward and is thus in operable position. The latch plate may then be pivoted downward to engage the head portion 28 in the aperture 31, the flat upper horizontal surface of the aperture engaging the face 29 that corresponds to the turret face 22 which is in upper horizontal position. In this manner, the aperture of the latch plate may be engaged with the head portion 28 to lock the turret in any position wherein one of the turret faces is upwardly horizontally disposed and the corresponding bolster head is operably positioned.

It will be thus appreciated, that in the case where four different bolster heads 19, for example, are to be provided, the turret 18 and head portion 28 are both of tetrahedral configuration with corresponding flat faces thereof in parallel relation. The aperture 31 is square with the upper fiat surface thereof horizontally disposed. Consequently, each 90 of rotation of the turret, a different one of the turret faces is in upper horizontal position and the corresponding bolster head is operably disposed. In each of such positions the head portion 28 may be engaged in the square aperture 31 to lock the turret against movement.

In the manner described hereinbefore, a bolster head of appropriate configuration and size to accommodate whatever type of bolster socket is encountered on the cargo container 12 to be secured upon the flat car 11 may be operably positioned at the ends of the bolsters 13, 13 of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated case, as best shown in FIGURE 3, the cargo container 12 is provided with hollow rectangular bolster sockets 33 each having a central circular aperture 34 in the lower face thereof. A cylindrical tapered bolster head 19a of an appropriate size to extend through the aperture 34 in close spaced relation thereto is selectively operably positioned at the opposite ends of each bolster beam 14 and locked in position. The cargo container is positioned upon the bolsters with the heads 19a extending through apertures 34 into the sockets 33. Each head 19a is preferably provided with a bore 36 for receiving a lock pin 37 which may be inserted through an access opening 38 provided in a side of the socket. The pin is engageable with interior wall portions of the socket to thus lock the cargo container in position. It is to be noted that the locking means 21 as positioned in the intervening space between the housing 24 and end of the beam, is compactly contained within the bolster 13 in unobstructing relation to the cargo container.

What is claimed is:

1. A universal bolster for releasably securing a cargo container onto the bed of a transporting vehicle or the like comprising a support member securable to said transporting vehicle at the location for said cargo container, a plurality of bolster head turrets mounted on said support member for rotation about horizontal axes at the locations on said support member for the bolster sockets of a cargo container, each of said turrets having a plurality of polyhedrally related faces arranged around its rotational axis and from each of which projects a bolster head, the different bolster heads on each of said turrets being of different sizes and configurations, whereby upon rotation of said turrets different ones of said heads are positioned for reception into a cargo container bolster socket so that differently sized and shaped cargo container bolster sockets can be accommodated by said support member, and locking means engageable with each of said turrets for selectively locking said turrets at different positions of rotation with different ones of said heads in position for reception into a bolster socket.

2. The universal bolster of claim 1 wherein said support member is an elongated support beam having a length substantially equal to the distance between a pair of bolster sockets in a cargo container, and a pair of said turrets are provided, one rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis on each end of said support beam.

3. The universal bolster of claim 1 wherein each of said turrets has a shank projecting therefrom along its rotational axis, and said locking means comprises a latch plate hingedly mounted on said support member for pivotal motion between positions wherein the head portion of said shank is respectively engaged and disengaged within an aperture through said plate, said shank head portion and said aperture having cooperating conformed configurations preventing rotation of said shank and said turret when any one of said heads is in said position for reception into a bolster socket and said aperture is engaged with said shank head portion.

4. A universal bolster comprising a support member, a plurality of bolster heads respectively of different sizes and configurations, means mounting said heads on said support member for selective movement into an operable position of upward right angular projection from said support member, said mounting means comprising a turret rotatably mounted upon said support member and carrying said heads at angularly spaced positions relative to the rotational axis of the turret, locking means carried by said support member and selectively engageable with said turret for selectively locking same at different rotatable positions thereof, said turret being of polyhedral configuration having a plurality of equally angularly spaced flat peripheral faces from which said heads respectively right-angularly project, said turret having a coaxially projecting cylindrical shank journalled for rotation in said support member, said shank having a polyhedral head portion at its free end of a configuration corresponding to that of said turret and having flat peripheral faces respectively parallel to those of said turret, said locking means comprising a latch plate hingedly mounted on said support member and having an aperture of a configuration conformed to the cross section of the head portion of said shank, said plate pivotal between positions wherein said head portion is respectively engaged and disengaged from said aperture.

5. A universal bolster according to claim 4, further defined by said support member having -a pair. of parallel Spaced apa t Ditties projecting from an end thereof and 6 having a rectangular housing between the free ends of References Cited the plate longitudinally spaced from said end of said UNITED STATES PATENTS support member to define an intervening space, a bushing traversing said housing in coaxial relation to said support 2,347,372 4/1944 S11v3 et 2944 member, said shank journalled coaxially in said bushing 5 2372213 2/1959 HPSfOYd X with said head portion disposed in said intervening space, 2,911,233 11/1959 Rlddle 280 511 X said latch plate hingedly secured to the interior face of said housing for pivotal movement within said interven- ROY D FRAZIER Prlmary Exammer' ing space about a transverse axis. F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

